Beauty

The definition of beauty is subjectiveHowever, our smiles transcend borders, cross cultures and need no interpretation. Smiling acknowledges the light within us.

“A simple smile. That’s the start of opening your heart and being compassionate to others.”

Dalai Lama

In this image, the viewer is confronted with two contrasting but equally genuine forms of beauty. The subjects stand perpendicular to one another, highlighting the different standards they face and embody. The woman in the foregrand wears close-shaved hair and intricate facial markings whose ring-shapes are echoed by her bold circular jewelry. In the background, her companion wears her hair in a long braid, and instead frames her eyes with strong brows. These apparent differences make even more apparent the likeness of their shared smile, which radiates a sense of pride and kinship.

Amir Leung-Tat, Beauty, 2018. Digital Photograph. ©Amir Leung-Tat. All rights reserved.

Amir Leung-Tat

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Ubuntu is a exhibition of the photography of Amir Leung-Tat. An interpretation of the Nguni term which means "I am because we are" and associated African philosophy which promotes the interconnectedness of humanity, Leung-Tat's work represents a poignant exploration of the vast totality of the black experience through the eyes of an artist coming of age. Shot during his time in Keyna, as well as during the 2020 Black Lives Matter demonstrations in Boston, MA, his work captures the enduring connections and similarities that override geographical differences. Despite the forced separation of Black bodies from their homeland, there is a vibrant energy and resolve to overcome obstacles and a singularity of spirit that remains connected across time and space.

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